In a major get for Northern California’s fall festival circuit, the 49th Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) will kick off its upcoming edition on Oct. 1 with the opening night screening of Wild Horse Nine, the latest feature from Oscar-winning writer-director Martin McDonagh.
The Searchlight Pictures release arrives in Bay Area theaters following its world premiere in main competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. McDonagh is expected to attend the opening night festivities alongside cast members Sam Rockwell and Mariana Di Girolamo.
Set against the political turbulence preceding the 1973 Chilean coup d’état, the film stars John Malkovich and Rockwell as a pair of CIA operatives reassigned from Santiago to Easter Island for a covert assignment. The narrative deepens when personal and political lines blur after one of the agents connects with two young activists, played by Di Girolamo and Ailín Salas. The star-studded ensemble also features Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey.
On Oct. 2, MVFF will host a special tribute honoring Rockwell, celebrating a screen career that includes an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, as well as an Oscar nomination for Adam McKay’s Vice. His television work has similarly earned critical acclaim, drawing Emmy nominations for FX’s Fosse/Verdon and HBO’s The White Lotus.
Looking toward the future of independent filmmaking, this year’s festival is introducing a dedicated section focused on first- and second-time features from emerging American and international directors.
“Opening night is when the festival truly comes alive,” said Mark Fishkin, MVFF Founder and Executive Director. “Launching our 49th edition with Martin McDonagh’s exceptional film and welcoming Sam Rockwell alongside the cast sets a high bar as we step into our next decade.”
Searchlight Pictures will roll out Wild Horse Nine in U.S. theaters on Nov. 6. The 49th Mill Valley Film Festival runs Oct. 1–11 across venues in Marin County and Berkeley, California.
